Gully Density

AUS-TMI-LVG-GUL General High confidence

Benchmark Value

0 m/ha
Direction: Lower is desirable ↓
Form: MaximumOnly

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context. The scoring engine uses 6 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 5 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

The detrimental threshold is crossed at the point of gully initiation (>0 m/ha).

Metric Definition:

Gully density is a direct measure of landscape instability, soil loss, and ecosystem degradation.

Benchmark Definition:

The point at which active gully erosion begins to occur in a managed landscape.

Justification:

Any value of active gully density greater than zero is, by definition, detrimental to long-term environmental health and pastoral productivity, as it signifies a breach in landscape integrity.

Sources (1)

Preview of Grazing impacts on gully dynamics indicate approaches for gully erosion control in northeast Australia
Grazing impacts on gully dynamics indicate approaches for gully erosion control in northeast Australia
View Source

Supporting Sources (30)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of 1 Background - Lord Howe Island Board, accessed August 3, 2025,
1 Background - Lord Howe Island Board, accessed August 3, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

National Soil Strategy, accessed August 3, 2025

View Source
Preview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Management Practices - Farmers for Climate Action, accessed July 30, 2025
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Management Practices - Farmers for Climate Action, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Sustainability & Organics on Norfolk Island - YouTube, accessed July 27, 2025

View Source
Preview of Assessment of UAV and Ground-Based Structure from Motion with, accessed July 30, 2025
Assessment of UAV and Ground-Based Structure from Motion with, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support Methodology Source Journal

Gully mapping and drivers in the grazing lands of the Burdekin ..., accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of Can simple, on-ground vegetation and soil measures reliably indicate the health of rangelands? An application in Australia's semi-arid woodlands - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 30, 2025
Can simple, on-ground vegetation and soil measures reliably indicate the health of rangelands? An application in Australia's semi-arid woodlands - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

The Rangeland Journal - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed July 10, 2025

View Source
Preview of Chapter 13 Gully erosion and its control - Queensland Government publications, accessed August 12, 2025
Chapter 13 Gully erosion and its control - Queensland Government publications, accessed August 12, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

The hydrogeomorphic influences on alluvial gully erosion along the Mitchell River fluvial megafan

View Source
Preview of E528M Grazing management that protects sensitive areas from gully erosion - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed July 30, 2025
E528M Grazing management that protects sensitive areas from gully erosion - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Grazing impacts on gully dynamics indicate approaches for gully erosion control in northeast Australia - The Australian National University, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of Effects of grazing on gully erosion rates in red goldfields soil on ..., accessed May 13, 2025
Effects of grazing on gully erosion rates in red goldfields soil on ..., accessed May 13, 2025
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Government

Plant responses to livestock grazing frequency in an Australian temperate grassland

View Source
Preview of Erosion experts converge on Townsville for gully symposium - NQ Dry Tropics, accessed July 30, 2025
Erosion experts converge on Townsville for gully symposium - NQ Dry Tropics, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support

Effects of grazing on gully erosion rates in red goldfields soil on Upper Burdekin catchment, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of Feral animals - Wet Tropics Management Authority, accessed July 30, 2025
Feral animals - Wet Tropics Management Authority, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Feral animals - Wet Tropics Management Authority, accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Grazing impacts on gully dynamics indicate approaches for gully erosion control in northeast Australia - ANU Researcher Portal, accessed August 10, 2025,
Grazing impacts on gully dynamics indicate approaches for gully erosion control in northeast Australia - ANU Researcher Portal, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Lessons for Gully Management | NESP TWQ

View Source
Preview of Grazing Lands - Northern Gulf NRM Plan, accessed July 30, 2025
Grazing Lands - Northern Gulf NRM Plan, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Grazing Lands - Northern Gulf NRM Plan, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of Grazing Management in Tropical Savannas: Utilization and Rest Strategies to Manipulate Rangeland Condition - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025
Grazing Management in Tropical Savannas: Utilization and Rest Strategies to Manipulate Rangeland Condition - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Riparian health improves with managerial effort to implement livestock distribution practices

View Source
Preview of Gully erosion | Erosion | Soil | Farm management | Agriculture Victoria, accessed May 13, 2025
Gully erosion | Erosion | Soil | Farm management | Agriculture Victoria, accessed May 13, 2025
Direct Evidence Journal

Grazing impacts on gully dynamics indicate approaches for gully erosion control in northeast Australia - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Gully erosion prediction across a large region: Murray–Darling Basin, Australia, accessed August 1, 2025,
Gully erosion prediction across a large region: Murray–Darling Basin, Australia, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Australia's State of the Forests Report, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of Gully mapping and drivers in the grazing lands of the Burdekin catchment (RP66G) Summary Report - Queensland Government publications, accessed August 1, 2025,
Gully mapping and drivers in the grazing lands of the Burdekin catchment (RP66G) Summary Report - Queensland Government publications, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Grazing impacts on gully dynamics indicate approaches for gully erosion control in northeast Australia - The Australian National University

View Source
Preview of How First Peoples Land Management Is Helping Conservation in Australia - Earth.Org, accessed July 30, 2025
How First Peoples Land Management Is Helping Conservation in Australia - Earth.Org, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Management Practices: Fire-Stick Farming and Beyond - Welcome To Country - Shop, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of Impacts of feral pigs on tropical freshwater ecosystems - DCCEEW, accessed July 30, 2025
Impacts of feral pigs on tropical freshwater ecosystems - DCCEEW, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

1 Background - Lord Howe Island Board, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of Improving gully density maps for modelling water quality within Great Barrier Reef Catchments - MSSANZ, accessed July 30, 2025
Improving gully density maps for modelling water quality within Great Barrier Reef Catchments - MSSANZ, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Improving gully density maps for modelling water quality within Great Barrier Reef Catchments - MSSANZ

View Source
Preview of Lessons for Gully Management | NESP TWQ, accessed August 1, 2025,
Lessons for Gully Management | NESP TWQ, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Alluvial Gully Erosion Rates and Processes Across the Mitchell River Fluvial Megafan in Northern Queensland, Australia - Resilient Landscapes Hub

View Source
Preview of Lessons from old fenced plots: Eco‐cultural Impacts of feral ungulates and potential decline in sea‐level rise resilience of coastal floodplains in northern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025
Lessons from old fenced plots: Eco‐cultural Impacts of feral ungulates and potential decline in sea‐level rise resilience of coastal floodplains in northern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Feral animals - Wet Tropics Management Authority, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of Lord Howe Island - Google Arts & Culture, accessed July 30, 2025
Lord Howe Island - Google Arts & Culture, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Lord Howe Island - Google Arts & Culture, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of LORD HOWE ISLAND A Summary of Current and Projected Scientific and Environmental Activities - Australian Museum, accessed July 30, 2025
LORD HOWE ISLAND A Summary of Current and Projected Scientific and Environmental Activities - Australian Museum, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Baseline high-resolution maps of organic carbon content in Australian soils - PMC

View Source
Preview of Lord Howe Island Biodiversity Management Plan - DCCEEW, accessed August 4, 2025,
Lord Howe Island Biodiversity Management Plan - DCCEEW, accessed August 4, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

Geology | Norfolk Island National Park | Parks Australia

View Source
Preview of Management of total grazing pressure - Making More From Sheep, accessed July 30, 2025
Management of total grazing pressure - Making More From Sheep, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

E528M Grazing management that protects sensitive areas from gully erosion - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of Program - CSIRO, accessed August 1, 2025,
Program - CSIRO, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Rehabilitation effects on gully sediment yields and vegetation in a savanna rangeland - CSIRO Research Publications Repository

View Source
Preview of Reef Water Quality Protection Plan 2013 Paddock case study - grazing: Tracking gully activity in the Burdekin range lands, accessed July 30, 2025
Reef Water Quality Protection Plan 2013 Paddock case study - grazing: Tracking gully activity in the Burdekin range lands, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Reef Water Quality Protection Plan 2013 Paddock case study - grazing: Tracking gully activity in the Burdekin range lands, accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Sustainability | Pinetrees Lodge | Lord Howe Island, accessed July 30, 2025
Sustainability | Pinetrees Lodge | Lord Howe Island, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Sustainability | Pinetrees Lodge | Lord Howe Island, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of The impact of feral pigs (Sus scrofa) on an Australian lowland tropical rainforest, accessed July 30, 2025
The impact of feral pigs (Sus scrofa) on an Australian lowland tropical rainforest, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support

Lessons from old fenced plots: Eco‐cultural Impacts of feral ungulates and potential decline in sea‐level rise resilience of coastal floodplains in northern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Management Practices: Fire-Stick Farming and Beyond - Welcome To Country - Shop, accessed July 30, 2025
Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Management Practices: Fire-Stick Farming and Beyond - Welcome To Country - Shop, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

A meta-analysis of soil microbial biomass responses to forest disturbances - PMC

View Source
Preview of www.publications.qld.gov.au, accessed May 13, 2025
www.publications.qld.gov.au, accessed May 13, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Not Stated
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 31 May 2026

Notes

There are no documented ecological benefits of active gullies in this context; any increase in density corresponds to an increase in detrimental impacts. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMI-LVG-GUL family.

0 m/ha Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Not Stated
Point Active v1